Poppy's Babies

Brambly Hedge #8

by Jill Barklem

It was early summer in Brambly Hedge. Outside, everything seemed quiet and peaceful, but inside the mill there was chaos. Poppy's new babies were crying, Dusty's mill was clattering and clouds of flour dust filled the air. This was no place to bring up a family. But what was to be done? The mice of Brambly Hedge come up with a plan in no time at all, and even Wilfred manages to keep it a secret from Poppy so that she has a wonderful surprise on the babies' Naming Day.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Classics, Summer, British Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Jill Barklem (1951-November 15, 2017) was a British writer and illustrator of children's books. Her most famous work is the Brambly Hedge series.

After an accident when she was thirteen, Jill was unable to take part in PE or games at school and instead developed her talent for drawing and art. On leaving school, she studied illustration at St Martin's in London. She became a full-time illustrator. She spent five years on research before she started to write her first stories about the mice of Brambly Hedge.

Reviews

[Drululu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Especialmente bonito con los bebes ratón. ¿Que más puedo decir?

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy and Dusty - the murine couple whose romance and marriage are chronicled in an earlier installment of the Brambly Hedge series, Summer Story - are the proud parents of three young mice in Poppy's Babies, but all is not blissful content with them. Living at the top of Dusty's mill - ninety-two stairs from the ground! - where it is always noisy and dirty, Poppy is at her wit's end. Then, inspired by one of Mr. Apple's ideas, the hedgerow mice all pitch in to solve the problem, presenting the young family with a newly refurbished Mayblossom Cottage on the day of the Naming Ceremony for the young ones...

A sweet story and delightful illustrations combine to make this eighth and final installment of the Brambly Hedge series as charming as its predecessors. I only wish that human societies were as caring as this idealized community of mice! Young readers who enjoy animal fantasy will take to these books, which, with their emphasis on feasting and adventures, seem like they could have been an influence on Brian Jacques' Redwall series, as will anyone who enjoyed the previous seven titles. This heartwarming story is a lovely conclusion to a lovely collection of books!

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the wedding in Summer Story, Poppy has triplets (because "litter" is an ugly word for a family) and she's an exhausted new mum. The picture where she finally falls asleep in her chair made me laugh out loud. How can mice be so mouselike, and yet so human? Barklem caught the facial expression and the sense of exhaustion perfectly. Not only that, she lives up 92 steps, above the mill, and dragging all the prams etc up and down is too much for her. As the triplets' "naming" (ie christening, cue The Archers theme music) looms large, she worries about the effect of all that flour dust on the special clothes...which aren't finished, because the mill is so noisy the little ones can't sleep!

But this is Brambly Hedge, after all, a communal society where apparently nobody pays any rent and a new home is available for the fixing up. Her "little cottage" looked plenty spacious compared to my own tiny apartment, but then I'm not lucky enough to live there. I wish I were. I did giggle at the tiny spiders; a real spider, in comparison to a fieldmouse, would be pretty big and imposing, and might object to having its home invaded!

Quilts, ruffly christening clothes, prams and of course cake! Lots of cake! This time we're given a look at the menu of the ceremony feast.

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm re-reading all of these delightful stories this year in an audiobook format, because the audio is so wonderful and feels almost like watching a vintage cartoon, except with the sound only (but it includes a lovely soundtrack and sound effects - it really is wonderful! :) ).

I picked two stories for each season, and this one is my 2nd one for Spring, after the Spring Story. It's a lovely short story, just like all of them, set in a cosy world of mice. This particular story is focused on helping others in the community, plus it's got mouse babies, so what's not to love :)

[Ashley Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Barklem can do no wrong. We loved this one like all the others.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful conclusion to the 'Brambly Hedge' series! I love that Poppy's family and friends sought a tangible way to be a blessing to her!

[Merel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zo zoet! Je zou toch willen dat de Bramenbuurt echt bestond en dat je ook lenteklokjesthee kon drinken.

[Caleb Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: What did you think of that book?
C: I liked it.
Me: What did you like about it?
C: I liked when they had the wedding.
Me: There wasn't a wedding.
C: Oh, I liked the ceremony. How many stars will we give them? I want to give them 5.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Poppy being an exhausted new mom isn’t relatable…

Did I read all 8 Brambly Hedge picture books in two days? Yes. Do I love them and am I excited to read them to my children? Yep. Did I read them now specifically to make sure I hit my Goodreads goal for this horrible reading year for me? You better believe it.

[Lesbiantoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

É tudo tão lindo e fofo

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing a post of Jill Barklem's art work on Pinterest, and having a tea cup from the "Winter" series myself that I enjoy very much, I thought it was time to read a story of the Brambly Hedge families. This will be a great series to read to future grandchildren.

[Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the many stories I've shared with my daughter this year, 'Brambly Hedge' by Jill Barklem is a captivating gem. While I typically reserve my Goodreads list for my reads, avoiding the inundation of children's titles, this series might break that tradition next year. It's rare to find a series that delights both parent and child alike, but 'Brambly Hedge' has done just that. Its charm and whimsy have not only captured my daughter's imagination, making it her favourite series, but it has also enchanted me, marking it as the most charming series I've read this year. 'Brambly Hedge' is a heartwarming journey through a world rich in detail and wonder, a must-read for parents and children alike. And the illustrations!!! Perfection, I love the cutaways.
Of the series my ranking would be:

Poppy's Babies
High Hills
Spring Story
Sea Story
Winter Story
Secret Staircase
Summer Story
Autumn Story

[Dafne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una de las mejores colecciones de cuentos infantiles de todos los tiempos. No defrauda nunca y siempre te deja con la boca abierta al contemplar las ilustraciones... Las casitas diminutas y llenas de detalles, todo desprender calor y amor, todo está cuidado y en armonía.

En esta ocasión, las aventuras giran en torno a Amapola, una ratoncita que intenta llevar lo mejor posible su día a día con sus tres bebés. Vive en el molino, una casa vieja, húmeda, alta y ruidosa, por lo que la vida allí no es fácil y menos si tiene que cuidar a sus tres pequeños.

Todos los ratones de el seto de las zarzas se unen para poner a punto una vieja casita perfecta para esta madre en apuros.

Me encanta este sentimiento de hermandad entre los ratones, la felicidad que alcanzan con pequeñas cosas y lo poco que necesitan para tener una vida apacible.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m guessing in the finished reading date here, I just know it was a week or so ago. All is well.

I love Jill Barkley and Brambly Hedge so this is another happy review of another of her books. Sweet Story about a busy mother of active new babies, mouse babies, all living in the diminutive world of Brambly Hedge. The cutaways and details in each illustration are charming. They never get tiresome, no matter how many times I look back at a previous page or book.

[Kate H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently found all my old Brambly Hedge books and decided to re-read them. I am happy to report that the stores are just as good and the illustrations are just as gorgeous as I remembered them being. I think these are stories young and old alike can enjoy and the beautiful pictures will definitely be of interest to all ages.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy and Dusty have had three little babies, whom they adore, but living in the flour mill has become too big a challenge. Dusty and the residents of Brambly Hedge decide to surprise Poppy by fixing up an abandoned house. This is a sweet way to end the series. I'm glad I embarked on this nostalgic read-through.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, the last of the Brambly Hedge books. Another charmer. Have to appreciate a community where someone just gives you a house because you need it more, and everyone comes and fixes it up into a home for a new mother.

Lovely illustrations yet again that are cozy and colorful. These books really are classics; surprising they’re not better known in the U.S.

[Zazie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little series of books and recommend them to anyone with children. I'm positive these stories will be loved and enjoyed by them. I'm also sure they will be loved by any adult who reads them.

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story celebrating the birth of three little mice. The whole community comes together to prepare a home for them. You could spend a lot of time just looking at the beautiful, intricate illustrations.

4/3/22 Read with Julia

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite of all the Brambly Hedge favourites. Every. Single. Illustration. The wee quilts. The community of kindly neighbours. The Old Vole's Name Day blessing. Mrs Crustybread's treats. I will never not adore this.

[Katerina Alexandraki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome- talks about the troubles of inappropriate housing, which are addressed by collective action: squatting and unoccupied house.
So wholesome and a great foundation to talk about community building with kids.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures. Story is charming.

[Tamara Zann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, instructive story. I enjoyed it.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muistan rakastaneeni pienenä tyttönä Tiheikön väen tarinoita! Kirjan kuvitusta voisi uppoutua tutkiskelemaan vaikka kuinka pitkäksi aikaa.

[James Koppert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely influenced by Beatrix Potter this is just so cute

[Gina Zappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like in this story, I would also like to be surprise gifted with a house. (But I don't want it to be because I've had triplets. Too much work.)

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely warm story! All about community , it's our favourite from all the Brambly Hedge!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

My oldest daughter (8) enjoyed listening to this story read aloud on youtube.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

[Sirkku · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very lovely childrens book. Really like the art style that was used in the pictures.